The Fantastic, Flopping Marcus Smart
- Thread starter Jed Zeppelin
- Start date
Marcus has some growing up to do, but stapling his ass to the bench only makes sense if you want this series to end in 5.
Try this when you watch Marcus. Forget where he was drafted. He is a valuable player. He probably isn't going to ever meet our hopes for a lottery pick though. That isn't his fault.
It might be my green-tinted glasses showing, but I'm not even ready to concede that he won't meet our hopes for a lottery pick. He's got lots he needs to improve on, but the guy has a knack for rising to the occasion in a variety of different ways and his potential as a defensive player is off the charts good. There's a chance he limits himself with his whining and flopping, I suppose, but he also may grow up at some point.
Regarding the whining and flopping: I think in his mind he is doing the things that a veteran does to get the call - within out having the veteran pedigree with which to pull it off. Obviously he runs the risk of solidifying a reputation as an actor which may cost him calls. The issue is that most young players don't get those calls at all. He's gotten his share of the calls but at what long term cost. To me, it shows he is at a more advanced place (in terms of BB instincts or thought process) in terms of trying to draw the calls, etc. I think I'd be most afraid he values the theatrics more than skill development. As long as he continues to develop his actual basketball game (and I'm not the one to assess that), I'm OK with him dialing down the theatrics versus shutting them off.
[Now the 2.5 gainer with the twist dismount in the last game was something out of Eastern European gymnastics, the only thing I can think is he had a bet with one of the other players that he could do it in a game. That was Pierce in a wheelchair quality thespianism.]
I don't know, he was the sixth pick in a crummy draft and is probably better than the sixth-best player selected. That's about as much as you can hope for, right?
He also just turned 22. He's not a good shooter, but he can get better by exercising the better shot judgment that usually comes with age. I think the same applies when it comes to defending without hacking and flopping.
How does whining and flopping have anything to do with one reaching his potential? If anything the more "effective" whining and flopping the more productive it will make him.
Selling calls is a huge part of the game. Guys like LeBron, Wade, Paul, and many other stars have mastered it which certainly didn't limit themselves from reaching their ceilings.
Honestly, I think there is probably a right way to do it and a wrong way Or, there's a LeBron/Wade/Paul way that works for them but not necessarily for lesser players.
Split this off the IT thread.
Marcus is a very good defender and has value. I just think the flopping takes away much more than it helps himself or the team. Of course, this isn't anything new to him: half the stadium flopped when he was announced in a game in college.
He's not good enough to do what Lebron/Wade/Paul do. When have you ever said, "That was a great flop?" He has the defensive chops to play at a high level and cut out the drama. His reputation is going to cost him, and the team in a key spot.
Marcus is a very good defender and has value. I just think the flopping takes away much more than it helps himself or the team. Of course, this isn't anything new to him: half the stadium flopped when he was announced in a game in college.
He's not good enough to do what Lebron/Wade/Paul do. When have you ever said, "That was a great flop?" He has the defensive chops to play at a high level and cut out the drama. His reputation is going to cost him, and the team in a key spot.
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Prophetic post.
Marcus Smart makes the team better and if his somewhat improved shooting mechanics ever turn into actual results (or if he improves them even more), he'll be a heck of a player.
Over the course of the season Smart has had among the worst OnCourt/OffCourt numbers on the team. Where has he been a net positive this season overall? The metrics I see don't support this which confirms my eyes.
Actually, by 82games, he's net worse than IT and Avery, which is no surprise, and better than ET and the rest of the guards, which is no surprise.
He's been a net positive by allowing the Cs to play smaller. We all know his strengths and weaknesses but he certainly makes the team better right now and could grow into a heck of a player.
Smart had a great 2nd half last night, a godawful 1st half and an overall lousy season. Glad he came through when it counted.
I am curious how, their offensive games are very different. Fat Lever was a playmaker and scorer. Fat was more a quick leaper, long for his height kid of guy while MS is a thick position guy. I would certainly do a figurative backflip if Marcus approaches 55% of Fat's offensive production. Fat went 19ppg, 8apg, 8 rpg twice.
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I am sorry, but I don't see the comparisons to superior offensive players like Marburry or Lever. Tony Allen has had a really good career.
Definitely not in physique. (Fat was not fat). But in his ability to affect the game at both ends and rebound.
Took Fat a few years to get to 19ppg. He was under 10 his first 2 years. Didn't reach 15 until year 5 and that was with Doug Moe's Scoring Parade. I dont think a career avg of 12 pts per game (85% of Lever) is out of the question for Smart. I dont see Smart getting 6-8 APG, though. (unless the Celtics suddenly make 600 more FG's in a season).
I'm not saying he's going to be as good as Lever. But I see him filling the box score and playing defense.